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View Full Version : Near Miss in Substation. Transformer failed while crew was in station.



altecworker
03-01-2007, 06:55 PM
At 8:51 this morning Butner Ret.'s Transformer #2 on Duke Power tripped out.


Contractors (Shaw) have been upgrading this station for about 2 months now in preparation for a new hospital coming in, and a large industrial facility. Apparently the Transformer was overloaded, or it failed due to old age.

The contractors had arrived not too long before the transformer tripped out, and were getting ready to get to work on installing equipment for a 4th transformer to be installed in the near future. I was still in bed when I heard the explosion s (two) , and our power subsequently went out a few short seconds later.

I am not sure exactly what happened (these linemen do not know me at all, so i am sure they didnt want to give me lots of information) but from best I can tell, whatever is in that plate/box burnt up (Switchgear?) and it blew the plate/door off (see picture)


I'm uploading pictures now.

altecworker
03-02-2007, 12:30 AM
Here are the pictures.

Looks like the protection hardware functioned correctly, no fire, no oil spilled.

They are still out there working on it as i type this, god bless em' :cool:

http://ww3.powerlineman.com/pictures/showgallery.php?ppuser=2566&cat=500